Heavenly Sweeps
07/20/2023
By: Jeff Yoder
MLB Sweep Tracker: Angels & Rangers Sweep Yankees & Rays (Respectively) as MLB Upheaval Continues
The MLB we once knew before the All-Star break has been flipped upside down. Just one week into the second half of the season, barely two series, we’ve seen three of the best teams in baseball hit their worst losing streaks of the season — Rays, Braves and Yankees. That means their opponents are riding win streaks, and the tides are turning. On Wednesday, the Angels and Rangers swept the Yankees and Rays, respectively, giving the AL East a much-needed reality check. Add in the Mets’ hot streak and the Marlins’ decline in the NL East, and we’re looking at some fascinating wild card races down the stretch.
Win Streaks
Rangers (Won 6)
Cardinals (Won 5)
Angels (Won 3)
Mets (Won 3)
Losing Streaks
Marlins (Lost 6)
Rays (Lost 4)
Braves (Lost 4)
Yankees (Lost 4)
MLB Quick-Hitters
Angels Sweep Yankees: Los Angeles notched its first sweep against the Yankees since 2009 with a 7-3 win on Wednesday night. With each win before the trade deadline, the Angels are less and less likely to be sellers, particularly when it comes to Mr. Ohtani.
Rangers Sweep Rays: Texas completed the series sweep against Tampa Bay on Wednesday night (5-1) behind Jonah Heim’s three-run blast and a stellar defense. The Rangers (58-39) have the fourth-best record in the majors, but their plus-166 run differential leads all other teams by more than 20 runs.
Reds Snap Giants Streak: The Giants entered Wednesday with the longest active win streak (7), but Cincinnati finally stopped the bleeding on their own losing skid. The Reds beat the Giants (3-2) with one swing — a three-run blast from Will Benson in the third inning.
Mets Still Breathing: The Mets won their third straight last night behind Justin Verlander’s domination against the White Sox (5-1). JV showed a glimpse of renewed greatness (8 IP, 7 Ks, 3 Hits, 1 ER). The Mets (45-50) are just seven games back of the wild card.
O’s Take Over AL East: With last night’s win over the Dodgers (8-5), the Orioles have officially tied the slumping Rays for the top spot in the AL East. Baltimore (58-37) is 9-2 since July 4, and they’re the only AL East team not on an active losing streak.
Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images